Skip to main content

Porto Novo, Cape Verde Isles cruise port guide

Porto Novo is found on Sao Antonio, the northwesternmost of the Cape Verde Islands, and is the island’s largest town with approximately 17,400 inhabitants. Located on Sao Antonio’s southeastern and arid side, Porto Novo began as a fishing village and only in 2005 it was recognized as a city. Since the island has no airport and Porto Novo faces the town of Mindelo on the island of Sao Vicente, this harbor is the main link to the other islands in Cape Verde and the outside world. View less A monument above the port shows a woman waving goodbye to those emigrating from the Cape Verde Islands. Roads leading out of Porto Novo have to either go along the impressive northeast coast or cross the island’s mountains through a rugged and even more spectacular landscape. The third highest peak of the Cape Verde islands at 1,979 meters is the Tope de Coroa to the west of Porto Novo.

About Porto Novo, Cape Verde Isles

Porto Novo is the main port and capital of Santo Antão island, Cape Verde — the largest and most dramatic island in the Barlavento (windward) group. The port serves as the ferry terminal connecting Santo Antão to São Vicente (Mindelo) and is the gateway to the island's spectacular volcanic hiking landscapes.

The hiking routes through the Ribeira Grande valley and the Paul valley are the island's signature experiences — extraordinarily lush green passages through terraced agriculture and small villages. The Cova da Paul volcanic crater, accessible by road from Porto Novo, offers remarkable cloud-forest hiking. The corniche road from Porto Novo to Ponta do Sol provides some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in the Cape Verde archipelago.

Quick facts

Port quick facts
Coordinates 6.4973, 2.6051
Available cruises 2